Matter Still Under Consideration In The Senate

The U.S. House of Representatives has unanimously passed a bill that would allow WASPs to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery just outside Washington, D.C. But the measure still has legislative hurdles to clear.

The 385-0 vote came less than a week after military officials faced tough questions from members of congress about the exclusion of the Women Airforce Service Pilots from the cemetery. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ).

“We found out about this issue in early January and sprang into action,” said Rep. McSally in a news release. “We introduced legislation, built support to nearly 200 bipartisan cosponsors, and worked to get companion legislation introduced in the Senate. Less than eleven weeks later, we got a unanimous vote on the House floor to right this injustice. This issue represents what I came to Congress to do: fix problems. I look forward to continue working with our Senate colleagues to get this bill passed in the Senate and send it to the President’s desk.”

“The Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II were trailblazers and forged the way for women serving in today’s military forces," said Senator Joni Ernst, who has introduced companion legislation in the Senate. "These women served our nation with great honor – and put their lives on the line. If the Pentagon won’t act to restore the WASP’s right to have their ashes placed at Arlington National Cemetery with military honors, we will. I’m thrilled that the House passed this legislation, and moved us one step closer toward achieving that goal. It is my hope that the Senate will act quickly, followed by the president, so we can restore this right.”

"On behalf of my grandmother, my entire family, and all the women of the WASP, I would like to thank Representative McSally for her dedication to this issue,” said Erin Miller, granddaughter of former WASP Elaine Harmon. “Having visited around 150 offices on the Hill, I'm aware we have a lot of support. However, adding the personal connection Representative McSally has to the WASP and her own military past as a female trailblazer in her own right, to her already outstanding advocacy skills, was a perfect combination of factors needed to achieve success. I refused to let Arlington tell my family no and she carried this same attitude to fruition throughout her legislative efforts. She is an inspirational addition to the House of Representatives."

In 1942, General Henry “Hap” Arnold created the WASP unit with the intention of granting them full military status. 1,102 female pilots signed up for the WASP program, which ran from 1942 to 1944. Their missions included ferrying airplanes, training combat pilots, and towing airborne targets, and 38 WASPs died during their service.

In 1977, Congress passed legislation retroactively granting active duty status to WASPs for the purposes of all laws administered by the VA, and in 2009, Congress awarded the WASPs the Congressional Gold Medal. Arlington National Cemetery approved in 2002 active duty designees, including WASPs, for military honors and inurnments. However, in March 2015, then-Secretary of the Army John McHugh reversed this decision.

Rep. McSally led a persistent effort to restore the WASPs in Arlington National Cemetery. Since introducing legislation, she has led a letter cosigned by over 50 bipartisan House members to the Acting Army Secretary, held a Special Order discussion on the House floor, hosted a press conference with House and Senate lawmakers, and has written numerous op-eds. Her legislation garnered over 190 bipartisan cosponsors.

The bill must still be passed by the U.S. Senate and signed by President Obama before it would become law.

(Source: Congresswoman McSally news release. USAF images)

FMI: http://mcsally.house.gov